VictimsofModernSlaveryDWPInquiry-WrittenSubmissionsPublished

In October 2016, the Work and Pensions Committee launched an inquiry examining the Department for Work and Pensions' policies and processes in relation to recognised victims of modern slavery and to assess potential changes in policy after Brexit.

This was following the Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner, Kevin Hyland, writing to the Chair earlier in the year to highlight the difficulties recognised victims of modern slavery have in accessing support and benefits. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) then confirmed that there is no specific support in place for recognised victims, unless they are granted discretionary leave.

The existing processes for EU/EEA victims is different from non-EU victims. Following the UK's decision to leave the EU, there are questions on how EU/EEA victims will be treated in future. The Committee's inquiry assesses DWP policies that relate to modern slavery and investigates how EU/EEA victims will be treated following Brexit.

The Work and Pensions Committee called for written submissions to evidence victim experience of DWP services and the impact of challenges faced. The written submissions from the Medaille Trust amongst others, are now available to view online via the link below: